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A:M Forum Rules
GENERAL FORUM GUIDELINES
The A:M Forum is for technical support and the sharing of tips and ideas between users/prospective users of Hash software. It is moderated constantly by technical support representatives.
DO'S!
-Ask questions about the software.
-Assist other users... everyone was new at this once.
-Inform people of your version/platform when asking for help.
-Share resources; tutorials, models, textures, tips and techniques (link to useful websites).
-Post links to your work, or where your art is being used online (on websites, in games, toons', etc.)
-Search the A:M Forum and FAQ. The question you are about to ask may have already been answered.
-Organize and inform others about user groups, IRC chats, image and animation contests, job opportunities, etc.
-Discuss what you are working on and let everyone know about magazine reviews and articles that relate to your projects.
DON'TS!
-Do Not be rude or disrespectful or mean to other forum members in any way. Personal attacks will be removed.
-Do Not post bug/crash reports to the list (send bug/crash reports to http://www.hash.com/reports.
-Do Not complain about forum content. Complaints or suggestions can be sent directly to hash@hash.com
-Do Not reprimand other forum members for violating forum rules, that's the moderators job, which (unless you are a moderator) you are not.
-No complaining or whining on the forum or distribution of misinformation.
-No flames of any kind.
-No Off Topic posts. (Posts in the Off Topics section should be related to A:M in some form or fashion or benefit the A:M community as a whole).
-No soliciting of any kind without prior approval.
-No threads or comparisons related to other 3D Applications.
-No "Wish list" or feature requests, they should be sent to www.hash.com/reports for categorizing and prioritization (User requests define the future development of the software).
-No "me too!" posts
-No discussion of Hash Internal Affairs (finances, advertising, PR.)
-No posting of private email to the forum unless permission of the author is granted. (Private correspondence should remain private)
-No very general questions like: "how do I make a good 3D model" make your questions as complete and concise as possible.
If you have questions as to whether it's appropriate, send it to: support@hash.com, We'll be happy to let you know whether it is, or is not appropriate.
User Led Forum Considerations
Firstly and foremostly, please remember this is Martin Hash's forum and that it is every A:M User's primary resource for information about A:M. In order to remain relevant we need everyone's continuing support and interest.
Secondly, understand there is a distinction between A:M (the program) and the A:M forum. There are some topics and issues that are outside the scope of this forum and most can be deduced by reading through the forum guidelines. These include such things as Hash Inc internal policies, business practices, trade secrets, and specific plans for the future not yet publicly released. Each of these would be fascinating topics of their own but are better reserved for private communications with a representative of Hash Inc.
Related to the second, is purchasing, customer service and other areas outside the purview of the common user who may have no interest in such things; subjects relating to money exchanging hands are beyond the scope of the A:M Forum and often can lead to conflicts of interest between users and/or Hash Inc. (If Hash Inc cuts you a deal on volume purchasing it's really no one else's business). Likewise, individual complaints about a product or service are best remedied by going direct with Hash Inc representatives empowered to make decisions. Please allow them them the time necessary to resolve your specific issue and consider the cost of customized solutions.
This last area is likely the source of much confusion because many see the A:M Forum as the official outlet for Hash Inc... and it is. But the forum is not designed for conducting business and private matters best resolved by going to Hash Inc directly. Similarly, bug reports are best resolved by entering them directly into the A:M Reporting system.
Many problems can be easily addressed at the user level just by asking fellow users in the forum. If someone at Hash Inc suggests the forum as a source, it is very likely a problem can be easily resolved. For tougher issues there is even more reason to take the issue directly to the source... you don't want the issue discussed... you want it resolved quickly.
Finally, remember that we want to pass this forum on to future moderators and generations of A:M Users in the absolute best condition possible. A:M is just that good a program and is worthy of our consideration.
Thanks for making the A:M Forum a great community.
4,166 topics in this forum
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- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 655 views
I'm useing A:M 2006 and cannot find the compliment all option in EDIT as it is placed in A:M 2003. Can someone tell me where it is?
Last reply by ssappington, -
- 3 replies
- 555 views
Hi All Ive just completed excercise 10 FW 190 Fighter, and although I have completed ok, there were a few things that didn't match what I was doing to what was stated in the book and on the video tutorial? At a few stages it refers to going to the edit menu and selecting compliment group and compliment spline, but they are not listed under my edit menu. Im using version 13 (its the only one I have) and Im not sure if its called something different or it doesn't. Any Ideas?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 4 replies
- 815 views
Hello - I found this in the forum... "If you are wanting to composite A:M images over something else, turning on the alpha buffer in your render settings and using alpha channel transparency instead is way better." The found the "alpha buffer" in the export settings, but where do I find the alpha channel transparency? Do I have to set the camera background a blue-screen color? Thanks for any help, Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 756 views
Just messing around with materials; is something like the compositing in MAX possible with A:M? http://www.3dvalley.com/tutorialsdata/bk-shadingtut3.jpg Something like that is what I'm looking at.
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 2 replies
- 476 views
Hello, I'm making my first forays into animating my character, and I have a question about compressing or stretching the frames for an action. Assuming that I keep the frame rate the same: Let's say that I've completed a complex action that takes 00:03:00 frames, but I'd like the entire action to take place in 00:02:00 frames. Is there a mechanism I can use, or what's the best way to make a whole action (consisting of a number of moves) be compressed (or stretched out) into a desired number of frames? Cheers!
Last reply by Laconic, -
- 8 replies
- 655 views
i m using v13, sometime ago i change my codec settings in my AM, please could some body help me out by telling me the right or default codec used in AM thz
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 7 replies
- 1.1k views
Hey everyone. I've been out of the "computer specs" loop for years. I used to build computers when I was younger, but phased out. I have a laptop now, but I don't think it's powerful enough for this program (graphically it leaves "trails" of the textures when a model moves). So I'm in the market for a new laptop. One that is for gaming and animation (figured if it can do gaming it should be good for animation.) Now, I called Alienware and received a quote with specs, but I heard they were overpriced. This is what they said: Intel Core i7 740QM Quad Core Processor, 1.73GHz (2.93GHz Turbo Mode, 6M Cache) 8GB Dual Channel Memory (2x 4GB DDR3) 15.6-i…
Last reply by Steven547, -
- 1 follower
- 14 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi everybody, This is my second post and my first new topic. I appologise if this is in the wrong forum, but I couldn't figure out which one to post it in. My computer is having problems. I just got Animation Master Last weekend, and My computer runs the program ok. When I do anything more taxing than web surfing, I get a message alert that beeps and says that the processor zone is overheating. I don't want to render anything untill I get this fixed or buy another computer. Does Anyone have any overheating suggestions? If I do need to get a new computer, does anyone have any suggestons as to what I should look for? Any help would be apreciated…
Last reply by Krazyman, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 570 views
I have been working on a model, no hairs but just ordinary patches, and I have now 3034 patches including about 70 5pointers. When is it reasonalbe to encounter problems with the computer, at what amount of patches? I have some modelling to go and I have all sorts of delays and even a black screen from time to time, just in the modelling window. No problems with the rigging or animating in chor. What is your opinon? - is my graphic card too old, a Radeon X1650? - too little RAM, 2 GB - all too weak? Or too many patches? Grateful for some advice here
Last reply by Shelton, -
- 8 replies
- 1.5k views
Hello all, Been a while since I have posted (went back to college). Now that I am almost finished and I was Spammed to upgrade to V13 (and I will), My old computer crashed about a week or so ago (crappy performance since I bought it 2 years ago) so I have one to just get by for college work (word processing, etc). When I order a new computer, what specs are best for AM now. I would prefer to either get a Mac that will boot also to windows but I don't know if I want to spend that much money. Feel free to change my mind because I would like to Final Cut Studio. (now you know why I am hesitant to get a mac...i already have the adobe products) OK, so providing…
Last reply by SirSpectre, -
- 1 reply
- 434 views
OK second question for the day , i currently have a rather complex model that has many different colored sections with lots of colors, it has go to the point where the list of groups for each color has gotten a mile long , is there a way to say put all groups on leg 1 into a folder and all groups from leg 2 into a different one
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 1.1k views
could someone simply confirm/deny that this method: http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?s=&am...st&p=199541 is/isn't viable this year, this version? thank you!
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 5 replies
- 2.4k views
Hey Hashers, Didn’t think I would be back so soon with another question (s). I tell ya, I was doing just fine breezing through this book until I got to Action Basics. This is deceptively the shortest chapter in the tome, yet it’s the one that’s caused the most head scratching. Ok, so I tried to scan the part of the book that's befuddling me and upload it here, but that's just not working out for me. I will retype it: “Each driver has it’s own setting for it’s default interpolation, located in the PWS next to the name of the driver. There are actually three pull-down menus located under that image, the first and last of which look ghosted out and are for …
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 34 replies
- 4k views
Hello... So, here I am with my first dilemma.. on my first attempt at a model that isn't from one of the manuals. go figure Anyway... Here's a link to a screenshot I took for reference. I've decided to model a series of objects I have around my house, start simple and get more complex as I progress and gain more skill and confidence. My first object is typical enough, a coffee cup. I get as far as modeling the cup (a simple lathe, nothing big there), and the handle which was only moderately more challenging in that it required rotating, extruding and tweaking of CPs. Where I'm running into trouble is connecting the handle to the cup. My thinking was …
Last reply by Roger, -
- 12 replies
- 1.1k views
When I activate the Cloth Wizard in a choreography, it works pretty well. When I activate the Cloth Wizard in a different choreography, with the same model, the cloth just bounces all over the place or something, when I simulate. I notice that each time I use the Cloth Wizard, a new Spring System folder appears in the Objects folder; I assume this means I can reuse this one spring system in other choreographies, instead of clicking "Cloth Wizard" every time, but when I put a model with that spring system into a different choreography, I can't figure out how to use the system. However this is done, I presume you can do the same with spring systems you create from…
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 2 followers
- 17 replies
- 2.5k views
I'm thinking about buying Animation Master but I have no animation experience. I'm a fast learner and i'm pretty good at photoshop and things like that. I was just wondering how hard it is to learn if you have no experience. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Chris
Last reply by Muff, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 462 views
OK well can someone explain to me what every constraint does and an example of how it would be used thank you.
Last reply by Caroline, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 535 views
could someone please explain what i need to do in order to constrain bones to null objects. for example head bone, arm bone or leg bone.
Last reply by Caroline, -
it looks funny but its real .... please where and how can i remove a constrain from a bone.
Last reply by petokosun, -
- 7 replies
- 640 views
Is it possible to constrain a bone to a spline in a character and have it stay on the spline as the spline is animated? What I am thinking is, can a spline path be used to control the relationship of bones for a spine?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 814 views
There was a previous thread on this, but I wasn't sure what version was discussed (I could have missed it). But is there a way during modeling, as I move a control point, to limit that movement (for example) ONLY to X? As I choose windows, it tends to allow movements in a plane, so I would be moving in X AND Y... But in many cases, I want to ONLY move a single vector at a time. Thanks much! John PS: The other post had mentioned using #'s 1-6 or so. I took that to mean using the various camera views, but this would still have the CP move in 2 coordinate systems (ie: X and Y, Y and Z, X and Z), yesno?
Last reply by Muff, -
- 8 replies
- 1.4k views
Hi, folks - Thanks for reading, sorry for such a basic question. I'm modelling a mini servo with some attachments - the first is the "rotor" that attaches directly to the servo shaft, the second is an elbow piece and the third is an extended arm, as attached. On the attached screen dump, I've photoshopped the bones of the different models in the choreography as best I can so they can all be seen. The dark red one at the bottom is the servo main bone. The big cyan one can be ignored - it's a boolean cutter. You can just about see the bone for the servo shaft - it's in there, but it's overlaid by the light red model bone of the rotor. At the base of the elbo…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 510 views
I am trying to add an Action to a mechanical gear I made. I created the model and added a bone - starting at the very center of the gear and extending to the edge of one of the teeth. When I try to move the end of the bone 90 degrees the model starts to turn and go off-axis. How can I constrain the model so that it turns (rotates) in only one plane and direction?
Last reply by bubba, -
- 1 reply
- 529 views
Can someone point me in the right direction for an explanation on how to use constraints to have an actor grab and hold objects in his hand? I have his fingers wrapped around the object (in my case, the hilt of a sword). Do I have to constrain the hilt bone to the hand or finger bones or vice versa? Do I use translate to and/or kinematic constraints? Nothing I try seems to get the object to stick in its original position. For example, the hilt of the sword jumps to the outside of the hand.
Last reply by luckbat, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 1k views
Hello everyone! I have a question, does anyone why whenever I use a translate and a orient constraint object on another object in a choreography file, but once you import that choregraphy file onto another, you have to constrain the object again? Another question I have is that I just added a translate and orient contraints from an object to a hand of a character and now the objects aren't attached to the hand. is there a way I can fix them without re-constraining them? thanks, J.w.
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 1 reply
- 515 views
I have a character that is lifting a box. The character bends down to pick up the box, then I constrain (translate to) the box to his hand. He then picks up the box and places it on a table. This all works nicely until I place the box on the table and turn the enforcement of the contraint to zero. At that point the box jumps back on the floor. Is there an option I can click somewhere that forces the box to stay in the place it was last translated to when the constraint was turned off?
Last reply by luckbat, -
- 3 replies
- 538 views
Is there a guide to all constraints? I pick up an object with a kinematic/orient like/compensate combo ( hand and forearm so the forearm follows the hand) then later I want to attach the hands to something.... Well the 2nd time I use a Kinematic on the same bone, it totally ignores it ( the 2nd one) even if the 1st is set to 0% enforcement. Also the 1st is set to a different bone than the 2nd, the 1st doesn't use compensate and I need compensate for the 2nd action. How do I get the 2nd Constraint to work, or what am I supposed to use instead of Kinematic? Kinematic works if I delete the 1st one. Imagine someone doing a pushup then lifting a barbell. T…
Last reply by skrilla, -
- 5 replies
- 676 views
I have a figure lifting boxes out of the back of a van and wondered if anybody could advise as to which was the best setup for the o constraints ? The box to the figures hand or hands, The hands to the box, and which would be the best constraints to use? The figure is lifting the box up, turning through 90 degree then walking off to the side, carrying the box ? regards simon
Last reply by serg2, -
- 3 replies
- 634 views
Im working on a project, and i came across something that I thought I knew. Well it turns out i didnt. Whats going on is shaggy is picking up a bucket, but i cannot figure out how to keep the bucket handle in the same position in his hand with using contraints. heres whats going on and what contraint i used.
Last reply by petokosun, -
- 6 replies
- 824 views
Hi! I put this in the newbie section because it seems an RTFM question, but I couldn't find an answer in that FM... Here's my problem: I created a little character model, added bones to it (created a bone hierarchy even) assigned CPs (weighted even) and would be all set to animate. BUT: I would really like to have the bones constraint to certain movement ranges. According to the manual, the spherical constraint seems to be what I need. And here's where I'm stuck. It seems that I can only add constraints to a pose or an action... not the rig (bones) in general. At least I couldn't find any info an that. Thing is I don't want to create any specific poses and or ac…
Last reply by Meowx, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 393 views
Hi, Can someone point me to the tutorial on constraints where Thom walks between two tables carrying a lamp? Thanks Don Rhodes Perpetual Newbie
Last reply by bighop, -
- 4 replies
- 664 views
can someone tell me which contstraint keeps a bone from moving at all? thx
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 6 replies
- 641 views
so i have a model of a horse and a sled. i want the sled to be connected or follow behind the horse as if the horse was pulling it. ive put a bone on the yoke and a bone for the sled. the sled seed to be find on its own as far bending and turning. i tried to constraint the yoke to the horse but the yoke separates on the path and sticks with the horse leaving the sled behind. i can constraint the whole sled with the horse but it seem a bit stiff as the horse turns on the path. any ideas on how to use the constraints to look more life like?
Last reply by mtpeak2, -
- 4 replies
- 549 views
Got my first question, now i got the sword in the hand moving with it, now, i cant change the angle of the sword, like, its stuck facing forward? wat do i do Trinrixpro
Last reply by SCDonnelly, -
- 4 replies
- 456 views
Hello, I'm pretty sure this is not the right place for this, but I can't find an appropriate forum by name so I'm sorry, but I need help. I have been attempting to reach the webstore by email and by the website interface about this issue since Friday and have gotten no response. In short, I have moved since the last time I used the Hash site, three years ago, and when ordering the new A:M I changed the address on the website to reflect this. But when I got the confirmation email it showed the billing address as correct but the delivery address as the old address even though I did not chose a separate delivery address from the billing one. Therefore I have be…
Last reply by Jumpturtle, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 466 views
Hi Folks I have some action objects that I am trying to put translate and orient like constraints on but its not working. Any ideas.
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 1 follower
- 17 replies
- 2.7k views
I would like to be able to control the Enforcement of a percentage Pose from a on/off Pose. Is it even possible? I am constructing a character who is talking trough the corner of his mouth. Witch corner he is talking trough is varying depending on angle to the camera. I am planning to use Dope Sheet to quickly make the basic lip sync before fine tuning it. I am going for this approach: I make two percentage poses for all phonemes, one for each side (Right A I, Left A I, Right E, Left E, Right O, Left O etc.) and form the expressions of the mouth. Then I make a percentage Pose for each phoneme (A I, E, O etc.) In these poses I control the poses above (Pose A I at…
Last reply by Visping, -
- 2 replies
- 607 views
My computer died a couple days ago, so I ran out and bought a new one, installed animation master on it, and copied my old project file to it. However when I go to edit the models, the control points are pitched black, and the software ignores the color setting I choose for them in the customize menu. The big issue however, is when I go to edit the skeleton; in wireframe the control points are in the correct color corresponding to the bones they're bound to, but in shaded mode, they're still black. Here's a picture of what I mean:
Last reply by FMSonic, -
- 2 replies
- 625 views
Along with my ongoing problem of Foot Targets drifting away from the mesh, I now seem to have Control Ponits permanently affixed to some point in space. I've examined the model in the Action window. All points are colored and all seem to be assigned to a bone. There are no rogue, uncolored points. So what are these guys hanging on to?[attachmentid=14755]
Last reply by Kelley, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
I have opened AM, but every time tO try and draw a spline, I cannot see the control points. Am I doing something stupid?
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 25 replies
- 3.3k views
Greetings again everyone Well now I have been trying to do something I asked about a while back http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showt...mp;#entry297368 Any way I was looking at one of the archives about sprites and so on and saw some posts by Paul Forwood, Johnl3d, and heyvern that I think will work. I don't know how they did it but I LIKE IT!!! Now my question here is, is it possible to control sprites like the attached image? I have attached my sprite emitter to a path, that worked but they still seem to fly all over the place. I also have figured out the 'transparency' to make one fade and the other appear. I have played with the collision thing…
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 1 reply
- 827 views
Occasionally things just cannot be explained. Even then though... there are clues... While troubleshooting some hooks and 5 point patches earlier today I noticed really strange behavior from A:M. A:M wouldn't save, locked up (kinda sorta) and the display... well it wouldn't display things as expected. Restart A:M. Nothin' Restart A:M Again. Little improvement. Change models/projects. More improvement. Spline stuff. Crash and Burn. What the heck... Maybe it was one of those updates I recently installed!!! Enter very distracting kids who remove my attention from my #1 hobby for awhile. Return with fresh perspective to see same odd …
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 5 replies
- 597 views
Hello - I did a search, but didn't find anything - I have a client that wants me to make a very short animation - but need the model and chor if possible in a 3ds format. Can you export AM models to other program formats, or is that more the job of the other programs to be able to import AM models or chor? Thank you, Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 reply
- 568 views
Help, I have a simple model that I paid to have created a few years ago... in HASH Animation Master. Now, I am finally ready to do something with it... but am using Cinema 4D. The C4D gurus suggest that if the file were exported as a Polygon File to OBJ, I can probably work with it. Is there anybody reading this that could help me out with that? Thanks! Taylor Collins taylor@soaringstuff.com
Last reply by KenH, -
- 10 replies
- 770 views
In addition to A:M, I've also been working with the Daz/Poser programs. I would love to be able to work with both of these programs on my projects. Is there any way to export A:M models into Daz/Poser readable .obj files?
Last reply by bigH, -
- 8 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi everyone, I was hoping that someone could make some suggestions on how to convert OBJ files to TGA files. I tried looking at a few online converters, many of which do not seem to recognize OBJ. I also tried Hamapatch and Tatara, but the OBJ files would not load. Any suggestions would be very appreciated. Thanks.
Last reply by newbie 28, -
- 4 replies
- 782 views
I have look around the forum and thought I had seen something on this but I can not find it. After some searching I decided it would be quicker to just post the question. I have a model in. .OBJ and I would like to convert it to .MDL but the A:M program keeps freezing. Dose anyone know how to get around the problem?
Last reply by DJBREIT, -
- 6 replies
- 574 views
I put some cookiecut decals on two patchplanes and get some artifacts as the cookiecut doesn`t seem to be completly transparent. I have checked the normals o.k., alphachannel is on in the tga decal. Any possible explanation, what might cause this and some help woould be highly apreciated. Win 15f
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 972 views
OK, so quick question. If I add an image to a model or a layer as a cookie Cut, there is always a light gray "halo" surrounding the images edges that I cannot seem to get rid of. Does anyone know some tricks to get that halo to go away?? It really stands out and distracts from my animation. Thanks for any help!!!
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 406 views
Several of the tutorials I've found on-line as well as some from the A:M training videos show a color picker on Windows that's much more usable than the one I get when I try to pick colors. How do I turn it on? Is it a plug-in I can download from somewhere? Thanks
Last reply by zandoriastudios,